Apparatus for telephone toll-lines.



No. 665,874. Pat ented Jan. l5, I90I.

A. m. BULLARD.

APPARATUS FOR TELEP HONETULI, LINES.

(Application filed June 7, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 665,874. Patented 1an.'l5, I901 A. M. BULLARD. APPARATUS run TELEPHONE TOLL LINES.

[Application filed Tuna-7, 1899.) v (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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ALBERT M. BULLARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR TELEPHONE TOLL-LINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 665,874. dated January 15, 1901.

Application filed June 7, 1899' Serial No. 719,641. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT M. BULLARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Telephone Toll-Lines, (Case No. 1,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to a coin-controlled toll-collection appliance for telephones and circuits therefor; and its object is to provide simple mechanism for permitting the subscriber to signal the central office upon depositing a coin and for permitting the central oiiice to control the disposition of the coin without aid from the subscriber, and, further, I

to enable the central office to signal and converse with the subscribers station without requiring the deposit of a coin.

Telephone-toll-station devices of the class requiring the deposit of acoin at the subscribers station before the central oflice can be signaled ordinarily have two functionsnamely, to drop the coin intothe cash-box or to return it to the outside of the box, the disposal ot' the coin usually depending upon whether or not the desired telephonic connection can be obtained. Heret-ofore in devices of this character the telephone operator has complete control of only one of these two functions, usually that of putting money in the cash-box. To perform the other function, the cooperationof the subscriber must be had. He is asked either to hang up his telephonereceiver at a given moment or to press a plunger, lever, or both, or to combine these acts, or to assist in various other ways. In such devices use is frequently made of a simple electro magnet to accomplish one function, the energization of such electromagnet being controlled from the central oflice. For obvious reasons any toll-collecting contrivance whose operation can be made independent of assistance from the public is superior to one that cannot, and the less complex this contrivance can be made the better. Such a mechanism forms the subject-matter of this invention.- I employ a polarized electromagnet whose armature is normally maintained in a central position, but which is adapted to .parts within.

tilt to one side or the other, according to the direction in which electric current flows through the coils. The tilting armature of this polarized electromagnet is connected with simple mechanism, whereby its movement in one direction will serve to direct a coin which has been deposited into the cashbox, while a movement in the opposite direction will cause the coin to take a passage-way leading into a return-cup on the outside of the box. At the central station I provide means whereby the operator may impress upon the line of the subscriber electric current of the proper sign to throw the armature of the polarized electromagnet to one side or the other, as may be desired.

I will describe the apparatus and circuits of my invention more particularly by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating by means of conventional symbols the apparatus at a subscribers station and the apparatus at the central office, together with the telephone-line circuit. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the toll-box at the subscribers station, the cover being removed to show the Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the cover removed a little distance for clearness, and Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view looking in the opposite direction.

Similar letters of reference are used to designate the same parts wherever they are shown.

Referring to Fig. 1, a telephone-line a, consisting of two branches a a extends from the subscribers station A to the switchboard B atthe central ofiice of the exchange, the branches at a of the telephone-line terminating in line-springs b 5 respectively, of the spring-jack b. The switchboard in connection with ,which I have chosen to illustrate my invention is of the type known to telephone engineers as a relay-board that is, a board where a line-relay is associated with each subscribers lineand is adapted to be actuated by the operation of certain apparatus at the subscribers station, this relay when energized serving to close a local circuit containing an incandescent lamp (1 or other indicator. A cut-on? relay 6 is also associated with the subscribers line and is adapted, when actuated, to remove the line-relay and indicator from circuit. This cut-off relay is included in a circuit from ground, terminating in the test-ring b of the subscribers spring-jack, so that when the usual plug whose sleeve-contact is connected with the ground-battery is inserted in the spring-jack the cut-off relay will be energized. At the subscribers station the branch a of the telephone-line terminates in the usual switchhook, which is adapted to close circuit with the other branch, Ct, of such line through the telephone instruments when the receivingtelephone is removed from its hook. Ahighresistance signal-bell is connected in a brid go circuit including a condenser across the two branches at a of the telephone-line.

The above general description of the telephone system illustrated in Fig. 1 will be suflicient, I believe, to enable one skilled in the art easily to understand its ordinary mode of operation and will serve as an introduction to the description of the apparatus and circuits I have added and modified to accomplish the functions hereinbefore specified.

The branch at of the telephone-line is connected at the subscribers station with a grounded branch circuit g, which includes the helices of the polarized electromagnet h, and is normally open, being controlled by the contact-springs g g. The engagement of these twocontact-springs with one another to close the circuit to ground is controlled by the deposit of acoin in the manner which I will hereinafter describe, and at the central ofiice the branch a of the telephone-line with which the ground branch g is associated is connected to a grounded battery-t through the coils of the line-relay sand the back contact of the cutoff relay 6. It will be understood, then,'that the closing of the branch circuit g at the subscribers station through the contact-springs g g by the deposit of a coin will complete the circuit of the grounded batteryt' through the line-relay, and thereby cause the signal-lamp d to be lighted, thus notifying the operator that subscriber A desires a connection.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, and 4;, a coin-chute a, equipped witht he usual means for rejecting'undersized coins, is adapted to conduct the coin is downward to a point where it is stopped by the valve or shutter Z. The coin resting here presses against one end of the rocking lever m,the other end whereof engages one of the springs g g and presses it against its mate, thereby completing ther circuit to signal the central ofiice, as above described. The valve Z is pivoted at its lower edge, so that it may be rocked in either of two directions. The movement of the valve is controlled by the polarized electromagneth, the armature h of,said magnet being provided with an extension or arm h which is connected with the valve by means of link W. A centralizing-spring n is fastened at one end of the box, and the other end engages with the arm h passingthrough a hole therein, so that the said arm 71* and armature-le ver h are normally held in a central position. Normally then the parts are in the position illustrated-in Fig. 2, the valve being interposed in the path of the coin. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that if the armature of the polarized electromagnet is tilted in a contra-clockwise direction the valve Z will be tilted to the right, so that it no longer pre- "vents the coin from falling, but guides itinto the passage-way 0, leadinginto the cash-box. Should the armature be tilted in a clockwise direction, the valve will be moved to the left, guidingthe coin into the passage-way 0, which leads to the return-chute p, so that the coin rolls into the return-cup p, from which it may be taken out by the subscriber. A swinging guard p is provided in connection with the return-chute for the purpose of preventing the insertion of a wire through the return-chute or other fraudulent interferences with the mechanism. I preferably make the polarized electromagnet in the form illustrated, which is very similar to that ordinarily used for polarized signal-bells-that is, a U- shaped electromagnet-eoreattached to one pole-piece ofa C-shaped permanent steel magnet; but it is evident that any other form of polarized electromagnet may be used for the same purpose. At the central office the tipstrand of the answering-plug u is connectedwith two keys (1 1", one of which is adapted to connect the tip-strand with a grounded generator q, whereby direct current at one hundred and ten volts and positive in sign may be impressed upon the circuit. The coils of the polarized electromagnet h at the subscribers station are so wound that when positive current is sent out from the central station the armature will be tilted in a direction to guide the coin into the cash-box. The other key 1" is connected with the generator 4, so that when this key is depressed directcurrent of negative sign at a pressure of one hundred and ten volts will be connected wit-h the line of the subscriber and so with the polarized magnet, so that the armature of the latter is tilted in adirection to guide the coin into the passage-way 0, and so through the return-chute to the cup on the outside of the box. A relay 8, having two windings, is preferably provided at the central office, one winding being included in the circuit from generator g and the other winding included in the circuit from generator r. This relay may control a local circuit including a signal-lamp, so that when either key is operated thelamp will be lighted. The operatoron seeing this signallamp lighted may thus be reasonably certain that circuit has been completed through the polarized magnet 71 and the coin properly disposed of. Two contacts g g are preferably provided, one at either side of the armature h, and the armature carries contact-springs g g which are adapted to make contact with the said contact-points when the armature is tilted to one side or the other. A shunt-circuit is established about the contact-springs g g, this shunt-circuit being controlled by the contacts g 9 The object of this is to permit the current to flow from branch g through the coils of the polarized electromagnet to ground after contact has been broken between the springs g g by the falling of the coin. Otherwise the armature would snap back too suddenly as soon as the coin fell a suflicient distance to break the contact between springs g g and would be liable to throw the coin to one side. The centralized battery t, which is included between the strands of the cord-circuit at the central office to supply current for talking purposes, is preferably adapted to supply current at a pressure of twenty-four volts. This, of course, will be insufficient to energize the polarized magnet h, since the latter is wound to respond to current having an electromotive force of one hundred and ten volts, so that no interference will be liable from the talking-battery.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the subscriber at substation A desires a connection, he is compelled to deposit a coin before he can signal the central office. Upon doing so the coin closes the circuit of the grounded branch g by making contact between springs g 9, so that current from the grounded battery 2' flows through the 1ine-relay out over the branch a of the telephoneline tl'lrough the conductor 9 and coils of the polarized magnet h to ground. Current from this battery, while insufficient to aifect the polarized magnet at the subscribers station, is strong enough to energize the line-relay c, which closes its local circuit and causes lamp d to light. The operator, observing the signal, inserts her answering-plug Lt into the spring-jack b and makes the desired connection in the usual manner. If the called subscriber-is busy or if for any reason the desired connection cannot be obtained, the operator depresses the refund-key r, sending out negative current at a pressure of one hundred and ten volts, which energizes the polarized magnet 7t, as above described, and returns the coin. Otherwise the operator depresses the other key q, sending out positive one-hundredand-ten-volt current from generator q and causing the coin to be guided into the cashboX.

It will be observed that the circuit is wholly free from relays and permanent grounds on the line at the subscribers station. The linerelay 0, which controls the signal-lamp d, is included in the branch a of the telephoneline and the usual ground connection is removed from the other cnt-olf relay-contact c. This prevents the toll-station from signaling the exchange by simply lifting the receiver from its hook. The subscribers station may, however, at all times be signaled from the central office, since the alternating-current signal-bell is bridged across the two branches of the subscribers line in the well-known manner.

My invention should not be confounded with those toll systems wherein a simple electric magnet is employed to control one disposition of the coin and wherein the assistance of the subscriber is required in pushing a button or plunger to dispose of the coin or to alter electric circuits. Neither should it be confounded with the employment, as in certain existing toll devices, of polarized signal bells or ringers of the telephone instrumen t, which are made to perform one of the functions required in disposing of a coin and making a connection. In the latter device the flutter of the armature-lever to and fro is caused to act precisely like the armature of a simple electromagnet in other devices of the same character;

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by these Letters Patent, is-- 1. Thecoin-distributingapparatus,consisting of a coin-chute, a valve therein adapted to be given alternative positions to direct a coin to one side or the other, a polarized electromagnet, an armature therefor adapted to tilt to one side or the other according to the character of the current flowing through the coils of said magnet, and a connection between said armature and the valve, whereby the valve is caused to direct the coin to one side or the other according to the character of the current sent through the coils of the magnet, substantially as described.

2. In acoin-actuated telephone toll device, the combination with a chute for receiving the coin, of a distributing-electromaguet and mechanism connected therewith for directing the course of the coin, a circuit including said electromagnet and terminals controlling the continuity of such circuit, the coin being adapted to close circuit between said terminals when it reaches a given position, and a shunt-circuit around said terminals, said shunt-circuit being controlled by the armature of said electromagnet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with a signaling-circuit a including an indicating device '0, of a pair of contacts g g controlling the continuity of said signaling-circuit, a chute associated with said contacts and adapted to receive a coin, the relations of said contacts being adapted to be altered thereby to change the condition of the circuit and so to actuate the indicating device, a polarized electromagnet included in said circuit, an armature for said polarized electromagnet, ineans connected therewith for directing a coin to one side or the other according to the movement of said armature, and means for supplying current of either positive or negative sign to the coils of said electromagnet, substantially as set forth.

4:. The combination with a telephone tollline extending from a subscribers station to the central office, of a coin-receiving appa- IIO ratusat the subscribers station, a polarized electromagnet included in a branch circuit of said telephone-line, an armature for said polarized electromagnet, mechanism operated by said armature for directinga coin to one side or the other according to the position of said armature, and means at the central office for impressing upon the telephone-line positive and negative direct current for energizing said polarized magnet and causing the same to deflect its armature to either side, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a telephone tollline extending from a subscribers station to the central oftlce, of a coin-receiving apparatus at the subscribers station, a polarized electromagnet associated with the coin-receiving apparatus and connected with the telephone-line, an armature for said polarized electromagnet, and mechanism operated by said armature for directing a coin to one side or the other according to the position of said armature, a signal-indicating device at the central office, contacts at the subscribers station controlling the telephone-line circuit and adapted to be actuated by the deposit of a coin to change the electrical condition of the telephone-line and actuate said signalindicating device, and means at the central ofiice for impressing positive or negative direct current upon the telephone-line to in tinence said polarized electromagnet and cause the same to direct the coin in either of two directions, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a telephone tollline extending from a subscribers station to the central office, of a coin-receiving apparatus at the subscribers station, a polarized electromagnet associated therewith and included in a grounded branch circuit of said telephone-line, a tilting armature for said electromagnet and mechanism operated thereby to direct a coin in either of two directions according to the movement of said armature, a grounded branch at the central office including a signal-indicator and a source of signaling-current, contacts at the subscribers station controlling the grounded circuit in which said polarized magnet is included, said contacts being adapted to be actuated by the deposit of a coin to alter the circuit condieeas'm.

ti ons and thereby alfect said signal-indicator, a shunt about said contacts controlled by the armature of said magnet, and adapted to be closed when the armature is tilted in either direction, and means at the central office for impressing upon the telephone-line positive or negative direct current to operate said polarized electromagnet, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a telephone-line extending from a subscribers station to the central office, of a coin-receiving apparatus at the subscribers station, a polarized electromagnet associated therewith, an armature for said electromagnet and mechanism connected therewith for directing a coin to one 'side or the other according to the position of said armature, a normally open branch circuit from one side of the telephone-line to ground and including the coils of said electromagnet, a grounded branch circuit of the telephoneline at the central office, including a signalindicator and a source of signaling-current, means controlled by said coin-receiving apparatus for closing the branch circuit to ground through said polarized electromagnet, and means at the central office for connecting the telephone-line with a grounded source of positive or negative direct current, substantially as described.

8. In combination with a coin-actuated telephone toll device, an electric circuit normally open to ground at the subscribers station and grounded at the central office through an indicator and a source of current, a coin-distributing magnet at the subscribers station included in said circuit, means,controlled by a deposited coin, for closing said circuit toground, thereby transmitting a signal and providing a grounded connection for said magnet over which operating-current may be sent, and means at the central office for sending current from ground over said circuit to operate the magnet, substantially as set forth. In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of May, A. D. 1899.

ALBERT M. BULLARD.

Witnesses:

DE WITT C. TANNER, GEORGE P. BARTON. 

